Anyone else having a pregnancy 'mare with the NHS?

[RobynNora]

Hi fellow mamas

As it says in the title, I'm having a 'mare and looking for some solidarity! I'm 38 weeks and every week there is a new cock up with my maternity care.

My trust has been very poor and I'm stressed out to the point I'm frightened to give birth because I don't trust them to look after me after making so many mistakes over the past 8 months. Someone from my antenatal class commented that it really feels like a dangerous time to be pregnant in my area. I agree.

My complaints are around things like repeated lost test results (including GTT), not being referred to growth scans when I should be and weekly chaos around basic appointment scheduling. Yesterday, they cancelled my flu jab at the last min, which I've had in the diary for ages. I can't get another privately in my area until after my due date, so my baby won't be protected in the first 6 months. They didn't care a bit.

It's not as though I've have unrealistically high expectations of a pandemic pregnancy either. Like all other lockdown mamas, my partner hasn't been allowed into any scans, and I haven't once moaned as I appreciate they're keeping us safe as best they can. I just want basic standards of ante natal care and am feeling really freaked out by it all!

Anyone else? x

Thanks Robyn will take a look.

I'm so sorry to hear people's bad experiences.

So far everything feels a bit hit and miss with mine... the hospital lost my blood and my original midwife disappeared without a trace. To be fair though, my new midwife seems nice.

I was referred to a consultant for longstanding anxiety which was a bit worrying! She told me my history makes me more at risk for pre and post natal depression but she couldn't do anything if these issues do materialize because of covid

My GP isn't seeing patients either so fingers crossed I can manage any mental health crisis myself.

Oh and the receptionist at my drs laughed when I asked about the flu jab but I managed to get that at boots.

On the plus side, triage were amazing when I had to go in alone with bleeding early on and I could bring my husband into my 20 week scan which helped ease some of my hospital panic!

I'm 33 weeks. I've had a nightmare with not knowing where my placenta is! My 20 week scan notes says placenta is low, nothing was said to me it was a very conveyor belt appointment going in and going out not much talking....midwife read it out at my 25 week appointment but done nothing about it.... 28 week appointment after researching myself I asked why nothing is being done such as being referred for a scan at 32 weeks like the NHS website says, midwife requested a scan... 2 weeks later I still had not heard anything so ring the scan department to be told very bluntly that the scan request has been rejected and to ring my midwife....midwife had no idea and had to chase up the reason herself and they said they got the notes wrong and after looking at the pictures my placenta is high up....yet I went for a private scan at 28 weeks and asked if my placenta was still low and they said yes it's still low! I've ended up paying out for another private scan which is tomorow to find out myself where my placenta is!

On top of all this stress with my placenta, I've been struggling with my mental health, all they seem to be doing is pushing me to go onto tablets which I've been on before and did not find helped! No other support other than being strongly advised to go on tablets!

This week also I found out on my break at work by seeing a post they posted on facebook that they have shut the birth centre I had planned to give birth at! Nice way of telling allready nervous and anxious mothers to be ey! I had a breakdown at work about it!

I gave birth in August - my whole pregnancy was a cock up with the care I had.

BUT - that was my third baby. I’ve had two other over 18 years and nhs care has always been shoddy and shambolic (three different hospitals/trusts), so it’s got nothing to do with covid.

Yep! I'm currently 7 weeks, this is my third pregnancy this year after 2 losses. I started bleeding last week and was hysterical, rang epu- nothing they can do cos of covid only ring if the bleeding is very very heavy. I think it's awful that they would usually offer a scan (same thing happened earlier in the year, they scanned me and found I had a MMC) but because of covid we can't have the same care. So basically now I'm just waiting and taking tests all the time 😢

@charpley162 omg I'm so sorry they can't check you over. Are you ok?
Sort of answers one of my questions though- I'm just waiting for a gp appointment for something else and was going to ask him if it was worth me going to the epu due to some rather nasty cramping I'm having. There's no bleeding or spotting but lots of pain to the point of keeping me awake at night but by the sounds of it, it's just something I'm going to have to cope with.

@WankPuffins best name ever. 🤣🥰

Things haven't been tooo bad here... Booking in appointment was over the phone and my first face to face appointment was at 24 weeks, but I was initially told I wouldn't be seen till 32 weeks so I suppose I should feel grateful. Both scans were on time and DH was even allowed at the second one.

On the other hand, very early on it took a week for me to be seen for suspected ectopic. Thankfully it wasn't ectopic but considering how serious it could have been if it was I think that's a long time! That was back in April.

I think it helps that most things are done through my GP surgery rather than the hospital. I make vaccine and midwife appointments with them and they seem to have their shit together a bit more than the hospital.

Sorry to those who've been having a tough time :(

@Waitingforbabypage I'm ok, just fed up now! It depends where you are because I've seen on here different trusts are still scanning people like usual. Which almost annoys me more! I'm in Sunderland and they're being quite strict. Hopefully everything is ok and it's just stretching! Good sign that there's no bleeding. I would still try give them a call though as yours might still be doing it